Word
ferocity
Phoneticsfe·roc·i·ty
US/fɝˈɑsəti/
UK/fəɹˈɒsɪti/
Definition
n. the quality of being very strong, violent, or aggressive. You use this to describe something that is done with great force and intensity.
n. the quality of being fierce, savage, or intense. Often describes physical force or emotional intensity in a violent or aggressive context.
Examples
“The storm showed its ferocity with high winds and heavy rain.”
“The team's ferocity on the field was the main reason they won the championship game.”
“The historical account details the ferocity of the conflict, noting how the defenders used every available resource to repel the advancing forces.”
Examples
simple
“The storm showed its ferocity with high winds and heavy rain.”
contextual
“The team's ferocity on the field was the main reason they won the championship game.”
complex
“The historical account details the ferocity of the conflict, noting how the defenders used every available resource to repel the advancing forces.”
Real-World Examples
“Officials in London always knew that such a dramatic shift in policy towards Israel-Palestine was going to elicit a hostile response, but seemed taken aback by the speed and ferocity of Israel's reaction.” “Now, though, they have fallen off their surfboard and are frantically trying to keep their heads above water as the ferocity of the top flight becomes increasingly apparent.” Etymology
Borrowed from Middle French férocité, from Latin ferocitas, from ferox (“fierce”), from ferus (“wild, savage, fierce”).
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Word family
Scan code
englishreference.com/q/ferocity